Find out ways of ‘Feeding Children during illness’ Despite all your attempts to maintain your health, your child has fallen ill. Did you know that, on average, children get eight to ten colds annually? Until they reach kindergarten and have developed their immunity, that is.
Despite the fact that there is no treatment, there are some things you can do to help children stay comfortable and fed while they are battling the illness. Children should obtain enough sleep and drink enough water.
But what foods should you give them if they have a slight cold and are sneezing, coughing, and having a runny nose?
Water, soup, broth, and diluted fruit juices are excellent fluid replenishers. You should replace lost fluids according to your pediatrician’s advice if your kid has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Herbal teas with honey and lemon may be advantageous for older children.
Feeding Children During Illness
Give Them Some Fruit
Although there is no good proof that vitamin C will treat a cold, its antioxidant effects couldn’t hurt. Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, and berries are high in vitamin C.
Offer your child a range of soft fruits; they are not only high in vitamins and minerals that promote excellent health and immunity, but they also contain a lot of water, which can help your child’s fluid demands. Frozen sliced fruits are easy to defrost and do not spoil as quickly as fresh fruit. Here are a few options for serving them:
- Slightly thawed fruits, such as blueberries or strawberries, offer a cooling sensation on the throat. Another option is to make or purchase frozen fruit bars (look for those with little or no added sugar.)
- Blend frozen fruit chunks into a smoothie using low-fat or fat-free milk or fortified soy beverage.
Delight Them with Their Favorites
But don’t go overboard. Serving up small meals based on their preferred food groups will help a sick youngster who may not have much of an appetite. Smaller, more frequent meals will help them satisfy their energy demands and are easier to digest. Avoid fatty, fried, and rich foods; instead, choose for simple starches like rice and noodles, which are easier on the stomach. If they are feeling a little nauseated, try bread, rice, bananas, or applesauce. Go ahead and include some vegetables if you can, but concentrate more on nourishing them.
Try Chicken Soup
Purchase low-sodium stock or attempt to make your own using the roasted chicken from last night. Warm, comforting, and widely used as a treatment, soup. It will also assist in meeting your child’s hydration requirements. Add cooked, chopped veggies and rice or noodles for a full soup. Oat flour can be added in small amounts to thicken soups while they are heated.
